Growing Lucerne in Tana River

Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile

Tana River County is a solid choice for Lucerne, with a soil-match score of 73/100. At an average pH of 6.4 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Lucerne's preferred 6.5–8 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 1.04 g/kg, P 8.5 mg/kg, K 108 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Lucerne prefers clay loam soils, while Tana River is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lucerne crop here can gross roughly KES 224,000 per acre.